Safesport/Screening
An unmonitored locker room exposes the minor participants to possible physical and emotional harm. It is the responsibility of each organization and coach to provide a safe program on and off the ice.
Safe Sport Program
According to the USA Hockey SafeSport Program Manual: It is the policy of USA Hockey that all USA Hockey Member Programs have at least one responsible screened adult present monitoring the locker room during all team events to assure that only participants (coaches and players), approved team personnel and family members are permitted in the locker room and to supervise the conduct in the locker room. Acceptable locker room monitoring could include having a locker room monitor in the immediate vicinity (near the door) outside the locker room that also regularly and frequently enters the locker room to monitor activity inside. If the monitor(s) are inside, then it is strongly recommended that there be two monitors, both of which have been screened. A local program or team may impose or follow stricter monitoring requirements. Any individual meetings between a minor participant and a coach or other adult in a locker room shall require that a second responsible adult be present. The responsible adult that monitors and supervises the locker room shall have been screened in compliance with the SafeSport Program Handbook and District.
All local programs shall publish locker room policies to the parents of all minor participants that are specific to the facilities they regularly use. The local program's policies shall include the program's (a) practices for supervising and monitoring locker rooms and changing areas; (b) permission or lack of permission for parents to be in the locker rooms; (c) prohibited conduct, including at least all forms of abuse and misconduct prohibited by USA Hockey; and (d) specific policies regarding the use of mobile electronic devices and phones and prohibiting the use of a device's recording capabilities. A sample locker room policy form may be found at www.usahockey.com/safesport.
It is also reminded if more than one locker room is used by the team each locker room must be monitored. Example, you coach a youth team that has both male and female participants the locker room for each must be monitored by a properly screened adult.
USA Hockey has now mandated that each organization have a SafeSport coordinator. A handbook is now available for all coordinators to download along with a copy of the different policies and required training of USA Hockey's and its member programs'. Please go to the website link: http://www.usahockey.com/SafeSport.aspx to review this new policy and to download all of the required paperwork for your coordinator!
Each club coordinator must take the course and download/complete their SafeSport certificate. All completed certificates are to be emailed to Pete Rothman, Atlantic District SafeSport Coordinator, at pete@rbcpa.net. All certificates must be completed by September 30 and sent to Pete for confirmation. The training website link to USA Hockey is: http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/document/0042/6452/USA_Hockey_SafeSport_Program_Handbook.pdf or you can always find it on the SafeSport webpage at www.usahockey.com/safesport.
How to Take the Training
The SafeSport Training is available to take right now at no cost. The training was produced by the United States Olympic Committee and is comprised of short video segments that take approximately 90 minutes to complete, however, not all training needs to be completed in one session. You will need your USA Hockey Member Number, which can be obtained at www.usahockeyregistration.com (under Member Options, click on "Request Duplicate Registration Confirmation"). If you are not currently a USA Hockey Member, you can obtain a Member Number to take the training by registering with USA Hockey at no cost in the Ice Managers/Volunteers category.
Information on how to register and access the SafeSport Training can be found on the website at http://www.usahockey.com/page/show/909009-safesport-program-training. Also, please be sure to select the USA Hockey SafeSport course as there are multiple courses available. The website also has links if you have questions about the training or on registering for the training.
More information on the USA Hockey SafeSport Program can be found at www.usahockey.com/safesport.
Under USA Hockey, the SafeSport program also includes the screening process. In an effort to best explain how this will work for the 2016-17 season, we are providing all of the information that we can at this time for you to get started!
SafeSport:
The SafeSport Training and Refresher Training are each valid for two seasons. Thus, if you took the training during the 2014-15 season, it was valid for the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons and you will NEED to complete the SafeSport Refresher course for this 2016-17 season. The link for you to do this is: http://www.usahockey.com/safesporttraining.
It is the policy of USA Hockey and the AAHA that those participants who (1) have regular, routine or frequent access to or supervision over minor participants (e.g. coaches, team managers, chaperones, etc.), (2) are responsible for enforcing child abuse and misconduct policies, (3) are in managerial or supervisory roles of a USA Hockey Member Program and (4) are new and current employees and/or volunteers of a USA Hockey Member Program, shall complete appropriate training.
Screening:
The screening of all coaches, managers, locker room monitors, officials and others that have regular, routine or frequent access to minor participants are to be screened every two years (see screening schedule below). Those in Pennsylvania (or participate in PA for 30 or more days) are required to comply with Pennsylvania Act 153 (amended by Act 15) screening requirements:
Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check and
Federal Bureau of Investigation Criminal Background Check
For more information on the PA requirements, go to http://www.atlantic-district.org/screenings_rules.php
All PA clubs must report to the AAHA a list of the cleared certificates received by November 30, 2016. Attached is a copy of the report that needs to be filed with Pete Rothman, AAHA SafeSport Coordinator at aaha.act15@gmail.com.
If your screening started:
Year Screened Compliance Required:
2015-16 You were screened under PA 153
2016-17 No current screening required
2017-18 AAHA screening required
2018-19 No current screening required
2019-20 AAHA screening required
2020-21 PA 153 screening required
If your screening started:
Year Screened Compliance Required:
2016-17 PA 153 screening required
2017-18 No current screening required
2018-19 AAHA screening required
2019-20 No current screening required
2020-21 AAHA screening required
2021-22 PA 153 screening required
Locker Room Monitors:
Any person that has followed the above training and screening procedures should be scheduled for the season. It is the policy of USA Hockey that all USA Hockey Member Programs must have at least one responsible screened adult (which may includes coaches, managers or other volunteers) present monitoring the locker room during all team events. Acceptable locker room monitoring could including having locker room monitors inside the locker room while participants are in the locker room, or could include having a locker room monitor in the immediate vicinity (near the door within arm's length and so that the monitor can sufficiently hear inside the locker room) outside the locker room that also regularly and frequently enters the locker room to monitor activity inside.
Review Your Organizations Electronic communications Policy:
If the player is under the age of 18, any email, text, social media or similar communication must also copy or include the player's parents. Coaches are prohibited from having players joined to or connected through their personal Facebook page or any other similar social media application. To facilitate communication, an official organization or team page may be set up and players and parents join (i.e. "friend") the official organization or team page and coaches can communicate to players through that site. All electronic communication of any kind between coach and player, including use of social media, must be non-personal in nature and be for the purpose of communicating information about team activities or team oriented motivational purposes.
Submit Your Organization's SafeSport Coordinator Name and Contact Information
This information must be submitted to Pete Rothman, by September 1, 2016. This individual should be familiar with the USA Hockey SafeSport Program Handbook.
http://assets.ngin.com/attachments/documents/0102/5713/USA_Hockey_SafeSport_Program_Handbook.pdf
Coming this September (scheduled) USA Hockey will publish a SafeSport manual
If you have any questions during the season, please call Pete Rothman at 610-721-4378 or email pete@rbcpa.net
